Housing Benefit

What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.

Universal Credit has replaced Housing Benefit for most people. Before you make a claim, you should .

You might need to  instead.

You can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if any of the following apply:

• you’re getting the severe disability premium, or are entitled to it
• you got or were entitled to the severe disability premium within the last month and are still eligible for it
• you have reached State Pension age
• you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

If you live with your partner

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either:

• you and your partner have both reached State Pension age
• one of you has reached State Pension age and started claiming Pension Credit (for you as a couple) before 15 May 2019

If you have an existing claim

You’ll continue to get Housing Benefit if you were getting it before 15 May 2019, even if your partner is under State Pension age.

If your circumstances change and your Housing Benefit is stopped, you cannot start getting it again unless you and your partner are eligible to make a new claim.

You can apply for Universal Credit if you’re not eligible.

can support you to make a new claim for Universal Credit, from opening your account to receiving your first full payment.

– Email  and a local team member will call you back as soon as they can.

– Contact the national Help to Claim team on 0800 144 8 444 to speak to an adviser on the telephone. Lines are open from 8am to 6pm.

– Visit the national  website for a webchat.